allegations Archives

AppWizard

July 10, 2025

Blue Archive PC Release Appears To Break Steam Rules

Blue Archive launched on Steam after four years as a mobile exclusive, quickly gaining over 20,000 concurrent players and more than 10,000 reviews. A controversy arose when it was revealed that the developer organized an in-game event encouraging players to leave reviews on Steam, which violates Steamworks guidelines. Players were promised in-game rewards if the review count reached 10,000, but this event has since been removed. A user pointed out that developers are prohibited from manipulating the review system or soliciting reviews for rewards. Blue Archive is categorized as a tactical RPG with gacha elements, and following its release, Umamusume: Pretty Derby also achieved over 50,000 concurrent players on Steam.

AppWizard

July 9, 2025

channelnews : Epic Settles Samsung Antitrust Case Over Android App Store Restrictions

Epic Games has settled its antitrust lawsuit against Samsung Electronics, dismissing allegations of collusion with Google to restrict rival app marketplaces on Android devices. The lawsuit, initiated in September, accused Samsung of working with Google to maintain its market dominance, particularly through Samsung's Auto Blocker feature, which was designed to prevent malicious software but also hindered downloads from competing app stores. The settlement removes Samsung from the broader antitrust case, leaving Google as the sole defendant on remaining claims. Both companies deny wrongdoing, with Google calling the lawsuit "meritless." The settlement comes ahead of Samsung's new Galaxy phone announcements and does not disclose specific terms. Epic's ongoing challenges with its mobile app store highlight the difficulties faced by alternative marketplace operators.

Tech Optimizer

July 7, 2025

Atlassian moved 4 million Postgres databases to AWS Aurora

Atlassian has migrated its database infrastructure to Amazon Web Services’ Aurora, transferring four million Postgres databases that support Jira implementations. The migration involved approximately 3,000 PostgreSQL servers across 13 AWS regions. The move aims to reduce costs, enhance reliability, and improve performance, upgrading the service level agreement from 99.95% uptime on RDS to 99.99% on Aurora. Samsung has postponed the completion of its chip manufacturing plant in Texas due to difficulties in securing customers. Infosys has advised its employees against exceeding nine hours and 15 minutes of work daily to combat burnout. Qantas has acknowledged a cyberattack affecting six million customers and will provide details on the incident's impact. Xerox has acquired Lexmark from Ninestar Corporation for .5 billion. India and Australia are collaborating on a research initiative to improve tracking of submarines and underwater vehicles. JPMorgan Chase has requested to terminate its custom top-level domains, ".CHASE" and ".JPMORGAN." China’s National Space Administration has released images of Earth and the Moon taken by its Tianwen 2 probe.

AppWizard

July 4, 2025

What did Minecraft YouTuber Skeppy do? Alleged grooming scandal surfaces after accusers retract statement | Esports News

Minecraft YouTuber Skeppy, also known as Zak Ahmed, faced serious allegations of emotional abuse and grooming from two community members, Csyre and Kaiya. They shared their claims on social media, including detailed Google Docs with screenshots and personal narratives. Csyre described a tumultuous relationship with Skeppy from late 2023 to 2024, while Kaiya alleged inappropriate advances when she was 16, though many observers found a lack of substantial evidence for these claims. Both individuals later retracted their accusations, with Csyre stating her experiences were misinterpreted and Kaiya acknowledging the absence of evidence for criminal behavior. Skeppy has not publicly responded to the situation.

AppWizard

June 27, 2025

Republic Games hires Chris Avellone for new RPG project

Chris Avellone has officially joined Republic Games as a narrative designer. The studio is developing a new RPG featuring a rich story with meaningful choices and multiple endings. Studio founder Adam Williams expressed enthusiasm for Avellone's involvement, highlighting his significant contributions to the RPG genre. The game aims to create a dark fantasy experience with immersive gameplay and an interactive narrative. Avellone faced allegations of sexual harassment in 2020, which he has denied.

AppWizard

June 20, 2025

Dino Patti says Playdead is taking him to court

Dino Patti, co-founder of Playdead, is facing legal action from the company following a LinkedIn post he made about the game Limbo, which included an image that Playdead claims is unauthorized and owned by co-founder Arnt Jenson. Playdead is demanding 500,000 DKK (approximately ,000) in compensation from Patti. The tensions between Patti and Playdead have escalated since the launch of Inside in 2016, with Patti's credit recognition diminishing over time. Playdead's legal team has warned Patti that his use of the company's assets and disclosure of inside knowledge could constitute a breach of confidentiality. Patti has expressed a willingness to be transparent about the situation and indicated he may release materials related to Playdead's early years.

AppWizard

June 18, 2025

Delete WhatsApp From Your Phones, Says THIS Govt; Messaging App Responds

The Iranian government has advised citizens to uninstall WhatsApp due to concerns that user data is being transmitted to Israel amid ongoing military tensions between Iran and Israel. Iranian state television has called for action against the app, while WhatsApp has responded by emphasizing its commitment to user privacy and denying allegations of data sharing with any government. WhatsApp's end-to-end encryption ensures that only the sender and recipient can access message content, maintaining the confidentiality of communications.

AppWizard

June 15, 2025

Experts urge caution over social media apps in connection to arrest of SC Rep. RJ May

Lexington County State House Representative RJ May has been indicted on multiple federal charges related to child sex abuse material. He faces nearly a dozen charges, and federal prosecutors are seeking his detention before trial. May allegedly used four applications—Kik, Telegram, Mega, and Loki Messenger—to distribute child sexual assault material (CSAM). Investigators noted that all four apps were deleted shortly before a search warrant was executed at his home. Kik allows communication without a registered phone number, while Telegram and Mega are favored for their encryption and foreign ownership. Loki Messenger also offers end-to-end encryption. Rebecca Lorik, executive director of Pathways to Healing, highlighted the dangers of social media platforms and urged parents to engage with their children's online activities, educate themselves about potential risks, and consult experts for guidance.

AppWizard

June 11, 2025

Forget WhatsApp And Telegram—Radical New Messenger Confirmed

WhatsApp and Telegram each have over a billion users but face scrutiny for security issues and tracking practices. A new state-controlled messaging app, VladsApp, has been approved by Russian lawmakers as an alternative to these platforms. Sergei Boyarsky, head of the Duma’s Committee on Information Policy, described it as a “secure, multifunctional alternative” aimed at enhancing digital security in Russia. The app will operate on state-controlled infrastructure and is expected to integrate with government services, allowing personal information transfer with user consent. The draft legislation must pass through parliament and receive President Vladimir Putin's signature to become law. There are concerns that the state may restrict access to foreign messaging services to promote VladsApp among users in Russia.

AppWizard

June 6, 2025

Fill the Marathon-shaped hole in your life with Supplice, the best prog-heavy boomer shooter you’ve never heard of

Bungie's reboot of the classic FPS series Marathon was absent from the recent State Of Play showcase, facing scrutiny over allegations of aesthetic plagiarism. In contrast, the early access game Supplice, inspired by Marathon, features fast-paced gameplay, a robust shotgun, and labyrinthine levels. It includes exposition-filled terminals and a progressive metal soundtrack. The latest episode, titled 'An Anthem of Hammers', introduces new gameplay elements such as the heat-proof Lava Suit, five new enemy types, a new boss, and the Fission Dynamo weapon. Supplice is built on the GZDoom engine and aims for a total of six episodes, with the first four currently available for £8 on Steam. It is also offered in a discounted bundle with another title, Incision, for £13.